In architecture, an apse (: apses; from Latin absis, 'arch, vault'; from Ancient Greek ἀψίς, , 'arch'; sometimes written apsis; : apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome, also known as an exedra. In Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic Christian church (including cathedral and abbey) architecture, the term is applied to a semi-circular or polygonal termination of the main building at the liturgical east end (where the altar is), regardless of the shape of the roof, which may be flat, sloping, domed, or hemispherical. Smaller apses are found elsewhere, especially in .
Definition
An apse is a semicircular recess, often covered with a hemispherical vault. Commonly, the apse of a church,
cathedral or
basilica is the semicircular or polygonal termination to the choir or
sanctuary, or sometimes at the end of an aisle.
Smaller apses are sometimes built in other parts of the church, especially for Reliquary or of saints.
History
The domed apse became a standard part of the church plan in the early Christian era.
Related features
In the Eastern Orthodox Church tradition, the south apse is known as the
diaconicon and the north apse as the prothesis. Various ecclesiastical features of which the apse may form part are drawn together here.
Chancel
The
chancel (or sanctuary), directly to the east beyond the choir, contains the high altar, where there is one (compare
communion table). This area is reserved for the clergy, and was therefore formerly called the "presbytery", from
Greek language presbuteros, "elder", or in older and Catholic usage "priest".
Chevet-apse chapels
Semi-circular choirs, first developed in the East, which came into use in France in 470.
[Moss, Henry, The Birth of the Middle Ages 395-814, Clarendon Press, 1935] By the onset of the 13th century, they had been augmented with radiating
outside the choir aisle, the entire structure of apse, choir and radiating chapels coming to be known as the
chevet (French, "headpiece").
[ "Chevet", Encyclopædia Britannica]
Gallery
Giulia1.JPG|Triple apse of Basilica di Santa Giulia, northern Italy
Stouen2.jpg|East end of the abbey church of Saint-Ouen, showing the chevet, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France
Église Notre-Dame de la Dalbade (Interieur) - Voutes.jpg|A chevet apse vault, Toulouse, France
West Dean - St Marys Church - geograph.org.uk - 994828.jpg|Apsed chancel of St Mary's Church, West Dean, Wiltshire, England
Monreale-bjs-3.jpg|The decorated apse of the Cathedral of Monreale, Sicily
Manila Cathedral altar.jpg|The apse of Manila Cathedral, Philippines
Jona (SG) - Busskirch St Martin IMG 9213 ShiftN.jpg|The apse of St. Martin church in Busskirch, community Jona, Switzerland
See also
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Ambulatory
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Architectural development of the eastern end of cathedrals in England and France
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Byzantine architecture
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Cathedral architecture
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Church architecture
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Narthex
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Niche
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Scarsella
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Joseph Nechvatal, "Immersive Excess in the Apse of Lascaux", Technonoetic Arts 3, no. 3, 2005.
External links
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This has a detailed description of examples in the early church.
